Page 85 of What a Wolf Demands

“I have to go.”

“You know, I should probably lecture you about the impropriety of sleeping with your prisoner. I mean, that’s definitely what you’d do to me.”

“I don’t—”

“But I have to say, Dominic, this turn of events is so delightful, I can’t think of anything negative to say.”

“Good for you.”

“Oh, it sounds like things have been good for you.”

Dom clenched his jaw and swung toward the bathroom. “Just make sure there’s a car ready for me when we land in New York.”

“Will do.” Pleasure practically dripped from Remy’s voice. “I very much look forward to meeting Mademoiselle Agincourt.”

Maybe the airline could change the flights, Dom thought, his gaze on the bathroom door. Maybe he and Lily could just pick some far-flung destination and wait out this whole trial bullshit. There weren’t any packs left in Europe. They could go to Scotland. There were plenty of redheads there. She’d feel right at home.

A knock sounded on the door.

Dom reached for his gun—then realized he was totally naked.

“Orange, uh, kitten,” a deep voice said from outside.

Remy spoke in Dom’s ear. “Those are the Mississippi wolves. That’s the code word I gave them.”

Dom went to the door. “Orange kitten?” he asked Remy.

“What, you got a better code word?”

Dom pulled the phone from his ear, ended the call, and opened the door.

Two wolves in human form stood on the threshold. If they were shocked by his nudity, they didn’t show it.

The bigger one lowered his gaze to a spot on the ground. “Our apologies for running late, Beta. We had a bit of trouble finding the place.”

Really? The motel was a stone’s throw from the Mississippi border. And Dom hadn’t taken any steps to cover his or Lily’s scents. The wolves were obviously Hunters. Even if they hadn’t been, Remy had given them the motel’s address.

The other wolf jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “We picked up breakfast on our way over if you’re hungry.” His gaze dropped to Dom’s hips, and color flooded his cheeks. “That is, if you’re, uh . . .”

Dom stepped back and flung the door wide. “You might as well wait inside,” he growled, then turned and stalked to the bathroom, grabbing a T-shirt as he went. When he got to the door, he turned, holding it over the evidence of his arousal.

The wolves stood just inside, their gazes firmly on the ground. The larger one’s eyes drifted toward the rumpled bed, then quickly darted away.

“Awkward” didn’t begin to cover it.

Shit. It couldn’t be more obvious that he and Lily were a heck of a lot more than jailer and prisoner.

For a second, Dom considered swearing the two wolves to secrecy. He didn’t want Lily to be embarrassed. On the other hand, what was there to be embarrassed about? He loved her. He didn’t care if the whole world knew it.

In fact, maybe going public could help her. Like most bullies, Thibeaux and the rest of the loup-garou had targeted her because she was alone and vulnerable.

She wasn’t either of those things anymore. He’d done what his wolf pushed him to do and protected her from her enemies.

Now, though? He didn’t need the wolf’s urging to continue doing it. No, he was staying by her side because he wanted it that way.

Hell, maybe it had been that way all along. Maybe he never really needed the beast at all.

A sudden feeling flitted through his mind—the emotional equivalent of someone rolling their eyes.

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